Apparatus for refining mineral oils.



H. D. LORCH.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING MINERAL OILS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJ. I916. RENEWED NOV. 24. 1911.

1 @fi%6& Patented; Apr. 30, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I /1 TWO/WNE V H. D. LORCH.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING MINERAL OILS, APPLICATIONIFILED SEPT.7. I9I6. RENEWED NOV. 24. 19M.

' Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

3 SHEETS -SHEET 2.

H. D. LORCH.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING MINERAL OILS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7. I916. RENEWED NOV. 24. 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Steam HORACE D. TORCH, 01F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE MSTWNMENTS, 01E FIFTY-ONE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO TORCH CONSTRUCTION CO., F TULSA, OKLAHOMA, A. CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA, AND FORTY-NINE ONE- HUNDREDTHS T0 SAM Z. LORCH, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3th, 1912.

Application filed September 7, 1916, Serial No. 118,891. Renewed November 24, 1917. Serial No. 203,674.

To all whom it may concern." I

Be it known that I, HORACE D. Loncri, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of J efierson and I State of Kentuckyfhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Refining Mineral Oils, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention covers an apparatus for refining crude oil and converting the same into a plurality of purified products or fractions, and has particular reference to means for carrying out of such steps in a simple and expeditious manner, without incurring material losses by the formation of waste products. A further object is to provide apparatus for producing from crude oil an enlarged quantity of gasolene or benzin, to convert a portion of the kerosene into gasolene or benzin, to convert a portion of the heavy fuel oil into asolene or benzin, to separate, purify, clarify, deodo'rize and refine the main roducts of the process, and to produce valua le by-products.

The accompanying drawings show one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

In said drawings Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an entire arrangement of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2

shows an improved form of the vapor separating and filtering device. Fig. 3 shows on an enlarged scale a vertical elevation of one of the vacuum liquid separators, in which two or more may be employed, and Fig. 4 shows on a somewhat larger scale connections at the top of the liquid vacuum separator.

In said drawings 1 is an ordinary crude oil still, which may he of any desired or well-known construction and heated in any appropriate manner. From this still leads a vapor pipe 2 into the lower part of the vapor filter and separating device 3. From the top of this device extends an outlet pipe 4, and from a point somewhat below the top extends another outlet pipe 5, which pipes may be connected and lead to the common condenser 6, or if desired the materials flowin through these two pipes 4 and 5 may be le ed through separate condensers and such further treating apparatus as may be necessary From the lower part of the condenser 6 a pipe 7 carries the distillate to an agitator 8,

From the bottom of the vapor filter 3 a pipe 17 draws oil the heaviest of the vapors, together with any condensed liquid. and may return the same, to a valve 18 and pipe 19 to still 1, or in case it is so desired, may

draw ofi' the same through the valve 18 and pipe 20 for other use. 7

The vapor filter and separating device illustrated in Fig. 2 on a larger scale constitutes an important part of my invention. The vapors entering through the inlet pipe 2 enter the space 22, and in this space solid material, any condensed material and the heavy vapors, which are not in condition for further treatment, settle out and are drawn 0E as above stated through pipe 17. The lighter vapors flow upwardly through the space surrounding the pan 25, which pan rests upon brackets 23, and is held in proper place by the spacers 24.

In the vapor chamber 26 a further stratification of the vapors takes place, the heaviest of the vapors going to the bottom of this space which is pan 25, and being drawn off by pipe 11, while the lighter of these vapors pass upwardly through the space surrounding pan or basin 29, into the vaporspace 30 (which space of course includes the space inside of the pan 29 and the space above the same). The heavier of the vapors in the space 30 are drawn ofl through the is a nipple 32, provided with a suitable 4 This is connected through approved type,

oil and water, together with some impurities, is drawn in to the vacuum separating device 10, through the pipe 9. The pipe 9 is connected by valve 31 and nipple 33 to the casing of the vacuum separator. 10. At the top of the valve 31, and opposite the pipe 9 closure, which may be used for removing any obstructions from the interior of the valve casing. At 34 is shown a gage, which may be of any usual or preferred structure to show the height and character of the liquid in the separator 10. At the bottom of the vacuum separator 10 is an outlet 35,

a controlled by regulating valve 35*.

About midway of the height of the vacuum separator 10, but below the inlet 33 is an oil outlet 36, which is connected by the connections 36 and 37 with a series of pipes 38, leading to different tanks or receptacles, into which the product is run. These pipes are provided with suitable shut-ofi valves 38*.

At the upper part of the vacuum separator 10, I provide a steam pressure pipe. 39. valve pipe 40, valve 41, with an injector, saidinjector comprising connection 42 and pipe 43, in which'is'plaeed an extension of the pipe 40, as shown at 45, at the end of which is placed a jet 47, connected by the union 46. By removing the connection 46, a different sized jet 47 may be substituted, to produce any desired amount of force to the injector apparatus. At 44 is shown a connection betweenthe part 42 and the upper end of the vacuum separator 10.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that there are two separators, 10 and 16 respectively. These two separators may be built exactly alike, so that Figs. 3 and 4 show the detailed construction of both these demess.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Crude petroleum of any suitable kind is placed in still 1, heated in any appropriate manner and the vapors passed by pipe 2 into the vapor filter and separating device 3, in which they are separated into four or more fractions, depending upon the respective weights of such fractions, the heaviest being drawn out through pipe 17, the next heaviest through pipe 11, and the next heaviest through pipe 5, and the lightest through pipe 4. In principle I preferably so regulate the valves that the material drawn out through pipe 11 constitutes that 'fraction corresponding substantially to the kerosene fraction, and so that the pipes 4 and 5 will carry off the lighter material, suitable for condensing and refining to produce high grade gasolene or benzin.

From the pipe joining 4 and 5, the vapors are led to a suitable condenser that is of any through pipe 7 into agitator 8. In this agitator the condensate is mixed with a suitable amount of water, any preferred mixing arrangements being provlded therein, and the mixture of oil and water passes off through pipe 9, into vacuum separator as above described and as more completely illustrated in Fig. 3.

By injecting steam from a pipe 39 through the injector 47, a partial vacuum is produced in the vacuum separator 10, so that the oil and water will quickly separate therein, the oil being drawn off through pipe 36 and the Water being drawn off through pipe 35 and valve 35*. By regulating the valves 31, 35", 38 and 41 just the proper amount of vacuum may at all times be maintained in the vacuum separator 10, to enable the proper functions to be carried out and produced in this separator.

I desire to call attention to the fact that it is not necessary to purify the condensed oils by any chemical process whatever, and thereby a considerable saving in the .cost of refining is secured.

While I have described the same treatment as being applied to the two separate fractions, I desire to state that in some cases it might be advisable to difl'erently treat such fractions.

Also by the provision of suitable outlet pipes, any desired number of fractionations can be made.

Furthermore, the apparatus may be employed in treating vapors arising from the boiling in coke st1lls of tar wastes and fuel oils in the same manner as in treating vapor from crude oil. All the liquids in crude oil, except the wax moreover can be extracted'and converted and the residua reduced to a fuel coke of commercial value.

Having thus described my invention I desire to state that the invention is not limited to all the precise detailsas above mentioned, but only by the appended claims, and What I claim is 1. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a vapor producing means, of a vapor separating chamberfor separating the heavier and lighter fractions while vaporized, means for creating predetermined partial vacua in different portions of the vapor separating chamber and separately drawing off the different fractions from said different portions while still in vaporous condition, and means for condensing the vapors after their withdrawal from the separating means.

4 2. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a vapor producing means, of a vapor separator having means for separating the heavier and lighter fractions while vaporized, means for creating partial vacua in difl'erent portions of the separator for separately drawing off the different fractions from said di 'i'erent portions of the separator while still in vaporous condition, means for condensing the vapors after their withdrawal from the separating means, and means for changing the amount of vacuum in the said difi'erent portions of the separator.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth,

the combination with vapor producing means, of a vaporseparator comprising a casing having compartments for respectively receiving heavier and lighter fractions of vapor, means for delivering the vapor from the producing means to the separator, and means for causing the Stratification of the different fractions respectively in their different compartments, said means including separate outlet pipes communicating with the different compartments, condensing means connected to the outlet pipes, means for causing a partial vacuum in each of the different outlet pipes and varying the amount of such vacuumto cause the separateptet at thte patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by admit-easing the @ommtaetoner at Eat Weehtnaten, n. W

tion of the vapors, and means forcondensing the vapors after their removal from the separator.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a vapor producing means, of a vapor separating chamber, means for delivering vapor from the producing. means to the chamber, a plurality of vapor outlet pipes leading from difi'erent portions of the chamber, condensers for the outlet pipes disposed outside the separating chamber, and means connected to the pipes beyond the condensers for creating a partial vacuum in each of said pipes'and varying the amount of such vacuum.

In testimony whereof, afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE D. LORCH.

Witnesses:

IDA V. HUEPER, Ms. A. SPEED.

ente, 

